North Carolina is stepping up efforts to protect coastal homes from hurricane damage by boosting its roof upgrade grant program. The state’s residual property insurance association is adding $20 million to the initiative, offering $6,000 grants to homeowners who install stronger, wind-resistant roofs that meet the FORTIFIED standard.
The move builds on a program launched in May, which provided $20 million in grants for residents of the Outer Banks and Barrier Islands. Now, the expanded program covers 18 more coastal counties, including Brunswick, Carteret, New Hanover, Onslow, Beaufort, and several others. These areas are known for facing high wind risks during storms.
The program’s goal is to encourage homeowners to upgrade their roofs by following the FORTIFIED standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). These guidelines include stronger roof attachments, sealed decks, and locked-down edges meant to withstand strong winds. A third party verifies each upgrade to make sure it meets the standards.
Research shows these strengthened roofs make a big difference. Homes with FORTIFIED roofs have about 35% fewer claims after hurricanes, and when damage does occur, it tends to be about 23% less severe. More broadly, the risk of claims from non-hurricane storms drops by 63% for homes with these stronger roofs.
The funding for this program largely comes from the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association’s surplus, which has grown due to lower reinsurance costs recently. Besides the grants, the association also offers a free Stronger Roof Endorsement that adds up to $5,000 in coverage for roof upgrades when replacements are needed after claims.
Since the association began adopting the FORTIFIED standard in 2016, it has helped more than 18,000 policyholders invest over $120 million into making their homes safer. With more states pushing similar efforts, this program is part of a wider move to reduce insurance claims and premiums by building stronger homes.
Homeowners in eligible counties are encouraged to apply quickly, as the grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. This expansion offers a real chance to make North Carolina’s coast a little safer when storms come ashore.